Index



(No Model.)

F. BOWMAN.

INDEX.

Patented Nov. 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIc FRANK BOWMAN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,755, dated November 22, 1892.

Application filed May 26, 1392. Serial No. 434,427. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvem ents in Book-Indexes, of which-the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a view of a portion of a book provided with my improved index; and Fig. 2, a detail sectional view, enlarged, of a portion of one of the leaves of the book, showing the manner of printing the indexial letters or characters on the inside of the transparent-cloth tag; Fig. 3, a detail of the tag,

showing its shape before being folded and at-.

tached to the leaf; Fig. 4, a detail view showing the tag attached to leaves of a different construction; Fig. 5, a detail of a modification of the tag, and Fig. 6 a View of a small book provided with another form of index.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved index-tag for the edges and other parts of books, whereby the letters will be effectually protected from defacement by handling and the edges of the out leaves materially strengthened, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, a designates the tag proper, which consists of a piece of strong transparent materialsuch as tracinglinen or strong paper-folded on itself at a, about midway its length, and pasted or otherwise secured over the edge of the leaf, so as to embrace it, the usual projecting part of the leaf, formed by cutting out its edge, fitting between and being closely embraced by the folds of the tag. The ends of the tag extend inwardly a short distance on the leaves, and are provided, preferably, with extensions a", which extend down along the edge of the leaf, on both its sides, for the purpose of strengthening the corner cut and preventing tearing at that point. The indexial letters are not printed on the leaves of the book, but on the under side of the transparent-tag material, through which they may be easily read, as shown, whereby the expense of printing directly on the leaves is avoided and the letters are effectually protected against soiling and defacement. The letters are preferably printed on the inner or under sides of both the folds, so as to be read from both sides of the leaf, and it will be observed that the letters, in order to appear properly through the transparent material, must be printed in reverse on the under side of the material.

When the tag extends beyond the edge of the leaf, and the latter is not cut out, the folds of the transparent fabric beyond the edge of the leaf are pasted or otherwise secured together, as shown in Fig. 4, or a small piece of fabric or paper may be secured between the folds beyond the edge of the leaf to add strength and body to the tag, the essential feature being to protect the indexial letters from defacement and save the trouble and expense of printing them on the leaves of the book. If desired, instead of folding the tags and attaching them, as described, they may be constructed, as shown in Fig. 5- that is, they may consist simply of pieces of transparent material pasted directly upon the extensions or edges of the leaves, the letters being printed in reverse on their under sides, as in other cases.

It will be observed that this invention is not confined to the use of any particulartransparent material or fabric; but, inasmuch as strength and flexibility are desired, I prefer to use transparent linen.

It will be observed that this invention is not confined to the use of simple indexial letters printed on tags attached to book-leaves, as suitable figures or words and descriptions printed in reverse on the under side of the transparent material may be used for other purposes and on other parts of the book. For instance, a sheet of the transparent material containing the desired characters in reverse on its under side may be pasted on the inside of the cover of the book, as shown in Fig. 6, or upon the title-page or other part of the book without departing from the invention, the essential feature of which consists in printing or otherwise placing the referencematter on the under side of a transparent protecting-sheet. It will be observed, also, that the tags or sheets may be manufactured separately from the book and sold as articles of manufacture. It is obvious, also, that this method of protecting printed or engraved characters may be used for other purposes than indexes without departing from the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent, is

from defacement and the printing of the indexial character directly on the leaf is avoided, substantially as described.

3. In combination withva book, the indextags consisting each of a piece of transparent material folded upon itself and secured over the edge of the leaf, the indexial character be- 7 ing placed on the inner side of one of the folds of the tag, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BOWMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. I-IAs'rIE, ALBERT E. CUTHBERT, 

